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Everything posted by sunviking90
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The thrifty cruisers Canada/New England review 4/29-5/6
sunviking90 replied to cgolf1's topic in Holland America Line
This is exactly the reason to cruise on a HAL ship! Love the promenade deck. -
En Route with Hank in Japan and the Westerdam
sunviking90 replied to Hlitner's topic in Holland America Line
Yes, I have never heard of a large cruise ship heading to Seattle going through the Canadian part of the Inside Passage east of Vancouver Island. That is also a long distance to go in a day and a half (from Ketchikan) at the new reduced speed required. Correct me if I’m wrong. It’s disappointing that the passengers were mislead in this way when HAL would have known long ago. -
Question about multiple cruise on the Medallion
sunviking90 replied to tjcletzgo's topic in Princess Cruises
I have seen both of my cruises on my app, so it should be possible. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
Yes, we had that frustration last year on the Zuiderdam. When we are cruising alone we don’t mind dining at 5 so are able to get reservations easily, but we were with my sister and her DH and they didn’t want to dine that early. Tried to get reservations at 6:30 and always told only 5 or 8:30. “As You Wish Dining” is really As THEY Wish! I know some will say just show up at 6:30 and wait a bit, but I am a planner an need things set. I don’t like uncertainty as to when I’ll get a table or if I’ll get a table. I have generally found the dining hosts lately on HAL very rigid, and not at all focussed on pleasing the passengers. A big contrast to the positive experiences we’ve had recently on Princess and Celebrity. -
Johnstone Strait - Telegraph Cove timeline
sunviking90 replied to PACD_JG's topic in Holland America Line
This has been our experience too. The last day before returning to Vancouver has always been the day we see whales, etc along with the beautiful scenery in the evening. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
I think you’re right. I haven’t been on Konigsdam, but almost all the live froms and reviews I read have been generally negative. The exceptions seem to be those travelling in Neptune suites, or Club Orange. They should have been prepared for this cruise to be full. These short round trips from Vancouver always are. They’re very popular with the locals. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
The Lido on HAL used to be (in my mind) one of the best for selection and food quality. No longer. On the Zuiderdam last summer we came back onboard at 3:30 hungry and just wanted a little something to tide us over. There was NO FOOD in the Lido! Not even the usual Pizza, pasta,salad section. We were told to go to the Dive In which had a line up about 50 people deep. Didn’t want a heavy burger, so went up to Explorations cafe (for the first time this cruise). I remembered they used to have little snacks and desserts up here. Nope. Was told they had had some macarons but they were all gone. Went back to the room to order room service and told a wait of 1 hour. By this time it was 4pm and our dinner in MDR was 5:30, so we just left it. While I love HAL ships and the classic design (promenades that you can walk on!), I’m not in a rush to get back on HAL. In comparison, we have taken a number of cruises on Princess in the last year, and while they have their issues too, the bounty in the buffet is amazing! I’m not even a big buffet person anyway, but there is always something there I feel like having. I will say that I do prefer HALs system of serving people. There are too many things I need to “unsee” when the buffet is all self serve. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
We also have Nexus, but I have never seen a separate line at the port. We also have never experienced the wait times people are having now, so possibly I never noticed? We usually cruise later in the season and arrive around 10:30. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
This. You have been cleared already. They just use the same letters all the time. -
Live from Konigsdam on a Pacific Coastal
sunviking90 replied to DrKoob's topic in Holland America Line
Thank you for your trip report. I just want to clarify that it is only US (not Canadian) customs you are clearing on embarkation at Canada Place. I suspect this is why things are often so delayed there. Almost all have to be funneled through the USBP, after checking in with their respective cruise line. im glad you enjoyed your time (pre-embarkation) in Vancouver! -
Really enjoying your trip report! We were on the Discovery Princess next to you in Victoria. Here is a shot of you sailing in. Canada Place seems to be especially crazy at the beginning of the cruise season. Being a seasonal port, combined with more passengers than the place was designed for (even after expansion) can be chaotic. It is also (I think) one of the only ports in North America where you have to clear US customs on embarkation. We usually sail out of it later in the season and it seems to be a bit better then, but even living here we are sometimes confused as to where to go. I find some of the the waiting areas are now the exhibition halls I used to attend dental conventions in! It is all worth it to sail the beautiful inside passage though. Sorry we didn’t have better weather for you today! Enjoy part two of your journey!
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If you’re not already locked into your San Pedro hotel choice, consider staying at LAX, then Ubering the morning of the cruise. We usually do this (late pm arrival) and the LAX hotel shuttles pick up right at the airport as opposed to the Ubers. We usually only pay around $30 the morning of the cruise to get to San Pedro (30 min)
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Check your safe before disembarking - I found someone's stuff
sunviking90 replied to roxievegas's topic in Princess Cruises
I guess we all have our own systems of remembering things. Our car keys are the last thing we would think of as we don’t drive to the port, so they’re put away. I would never forget my wallet though. It comes out of the safe and into my purse the night before we disembark. -
Check your safe before disembarking - I found someone's stuff
sunviking90 replied to roxievegas's topic in Princess Cruises
We use the safe for my wallet which has the passports, credit cards etc. I really wonder why people would put their keys in there though. Do they think someone from the ship will steal their car or break into their home? I put the keys in a zippered compartment in my tote bag and leave them there. -
Yes, I remember the tags from HAL. Those tags actually don’t bother me. It’s the only way I can ever remember which cabin we sailed in!
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Reunited with ROTTERDAM - 5 Days of Caribbean Bliss
sunviking90 replied to eroller's topic in Holland America Line
Yes, it doesn’t make sense at all though. I don’t really know until after my main course if I’ll want dessert, or whether I want a light one, etc. -
Thank you everyone for your replies. Very helpful.
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We are going on a 7 day cruise and I was thinking of prepurchasing a laundry bag. What is the general turn around time? We are travelling after the cruise, so I’d like to have it done as late as possible. Thanks!
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Good Morning to all the Dailyites and thank you for all the contributions as usual! Grilled is cheese is the ultimate comfort food in our house and best enjoyed on a rainy day. My darling niece is a lawyer, so of course I’ll be kind to her! We’ve never been to Brazil, but it’s another one on these new retirees bucket list. Today is a beautiful sunny day in Vancouver, and we kick off our 2023 cruise ship season with the Sapphire Princess today and Konigsdam tomorrow. Best wishes to everyone!
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Agree. We’ll be trying Concierge class next week only because it was actually cheaper than the veranda staterooms! The extra points make it worthwhile, but I’m. It expecting much difference. We always enjoy lunch on embarkation on Princess, but anyone can go.
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Issue with Princess website - Selecting Plus doesn’t give you Plus
sunviking90 replied to RickT's topic in Princess Cruises
So, I went in again to look at the Canadian at par offers and it does what yours does. The Standard is the same as Plus. If you click through it is higher though. -
How is the bidding system doing? Any comments?
sunviking90 replied to Bwana Tom's topic in Princess Cruises
I was told on another thread that the 14 is treated as two 7 days if it is also bookable that way, even if you book it as 14. The advantage of booking it as 14 would be some savings on port charges, but as she points out the cabin selection is not as good for the 14 as they obviously have a lot of them allotted for the 7 day itineraries as well as the cruise tour combos in Alaska. I think she will be bidding as a 14 day itinerary only. -
Issue with Princess website - Selecting Plus doesn’t give you Plus
sunviking90 replied to RickT's topic in Princess Cruises
It seems to work for me and I’m in Canada. Also, check you’re getting the best price with your PVP. The website prices are often incorrect, as you see mine is lower than yours. I recently booked a cruise with pricing my PVP had (as well as TAs) and it never showed that cheap online.